Fisher House

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Our Staff

We are here to help our nation's military families and veterans.

David Coker, President

After a career in the military and supporting his local Fisher House, Dave was hired as the Foundation's first employee by founder Zachary Fisher. He has spent the last 20 years working with the DOD and VA leadership to identify new projects and build houses as well as implement and grow the various programs of the Foundation. He believes that the military and VA do a great job supporting our military families and we are proud to fill in the gaps of caring for our nation's heroes and their families.

Mary B. Considine, Chief of Staff

Mary B. began her career at Fisher House Foundation as a volunteer, licking stamps and replacing batteries in donated toys for the children at Fisher Houses. Given the opportunity to work full-time as the program expanded, she jumped at the chance. Over ten years later, her love for serving military families and veterans at a time when they need it most has only grown. Whether talking to a donor who has supported the Fisher House mission for 20+ years, or sharing a coffee break in a Fisher House kitchen with a guest, Mary is always excited to explore new opportunities to engage supporters in improving quality of life in the military community.

Kerri Childress, Vice President of Communications

Kerri recently retired from the government after 33 years service. She was on the front lines in California when our severely injured troops started coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan and saw first-hand the impact of a Fisher House and the difference it made for veterans, their families and VA staff. A Navy veteran herself, she has been serving veterans in some capacity her entire career.

Derek Donovan, Vice President of Programs and Community Relations

Derek is a retired Marine Corps Veteran, active-duty Navy spouse, and Blue-Star Dad. He first met Zachary Fisher aboard the USS Intrepid when serving as aide to the Secretary of the Navy and worked with Fisher House Foundation Chairman Ken Fisher on the Presidential Commission for the Care of America's Returning Wounded Warriors.

Brian Gawne, Vice President of Operations

Brian served for almost 3 decades as a career Naval Officer. His desire to continue to serve Service Members and their families led him directly to Fisher House, where he manages and supports daily operations on their behalf.

Jim Weiskopf, Vice President

Jim, a retired military officer, became the Foundation’s third employee in 1997. He set up the Foundation’s signature programs – Newman’s Own, Scholarships for Military Children, Fisher House Golf Classic, Fisher House Ambassadors – in addition to its education and public relations outreach programs. While he officially retired at the end of 2009, he continues to serve the Foundation in a consultant and volunteer capacity, administering the Scholarship and Ambassador programs.

Denise Dolan, Senior Director of Development

Denise joined Fisher House Foundation in 2014 and is honored to use her fundraising experience to serve military veterans and their families. Denise is the proud granddaughter of a World War II veteran who survived for five days - lost in the dense New Guinea jungle. In her role, she oversees the fundraising efforts of the Foundation.

Cathy Cabrey, Director of Community Engagement

Cathy and Stacy Toner created Team Fisher House in 2006 as volunteers. The Team Fisher House program hosts fundraising teams at 5 military races across the country and supports the online donation efforts of community fundraisers around the world. Cathy is an Army spouse of 20+ years and an Army, Navy, and rising-nurse mom. Her favorite part about Team Fisher House - MORE COWBELL!

Andrew Kayton, Director of Donations

Andrew has over ten years of experience in nonprofit and political management. He has been in the donations department of Fisher House Foundation since 2007. He currently serves as the director of the donations department, overseeing a small but dedicated staff ensuring the sustainability of the Foundation. He currently resides in Clarksburg, Maryland with his wife Laura and their twins Brody and Ella. He hopes to see the Buffalo Bills win a Super Bowl in his lifetime.

Tish Stropes, Director of Hero Programs

Tish is responsible for the Hero Miles and Hotels for Heroes programs which help keep families connected during the healing process. Tish is especially proud that these programs exist because of the generosity of the public. Tish, along with her active duty Air Force husband and two teenage children, are blessed to be part of the ever-expanding circle of Fisher House beneficiaries and supporters.

Stacy Thomas, Deputy Director of Community Engagement

Stacy started her journey with the Fisher House program as a former Army spouse in Landstuhl, Germany where she became the Assistant Manager of the Landstuhl Fisher Houses in 2005. She transitioned to the Foundation after moving back to the US in 2008. She handles all third party fundraising and cause-related marketing requests, works as the liaison to the worldwide network of Fisher Houses, is part of the special events team, and is also the Executive Assistant to Fisher House Foundation President David Coker. She resides in Northern Virginia with her husband and two young children.

Coreen Burnett, Chief Accountant

Coreen began working for the Foundation in January 2009. Coreen is our chief accountant and manages the general ledger, in addition to preparing various monthly reports for staff. She is married to a Navy Veteran and they have one son. Her father was a WWII veteran in the Army Air Corps, a brother served in the Air Force and another served in the Navy so she takes the mission of the Foundation very seriously.

Marcela Appelhanz, Hotels for Heroes Program Administrator

Marcela served in the U.S. Navy for four years as an FMF Corpsman. After leaving the military in 2009, she began working at the Department of Veterans Affairs’ National Veterans Summer Sports Clinic while attending college full-time. In 2013 and after graduating college, she joined the Hotels for Heroes Program at Fisher House Foundation. Her passion for helping Service Members and Veterans has intensified over the years, and she is humbled by the opportunity to continue to serve our Nation’s Heroes.

Lisa DiGangi, Digital Media Coordinator

Lisa started with the foundation straight out of college in 2007. She has brought her love of technology and the military to our online presence. In her role, Lisa manages all aspects of social media and the website as well as being a part of the special events team. Her passion for the military and Fisher House comes from growing up a proud Army brat & having a brother on active duty. Hooah!

Ashley Estill, Communications and PR Coordinator

While working for a local magazine after college, Ashley began volunteering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. During her time volunteering, she realized how strongly she felt about supporting our military and decided to pursue a career to support that passion. Ashley was hired in January 2011 as the Media Relations Assistant for Fisher House. She has become the Associate Editor of the Foundation’s magazine, The Patriot; the unofficial Foundation photographer; and assists with special events and public relations.

Gillian Gonzalez, Hero Miles Program Administrator

Gillian came to the Foundation in 2012 after many years as a volunteer at the Walter Reed Bethesda Fisher Houses. Working on Hero Miles she is responsible for the day to day administration of the program. Gillian is prior active duty Air Force and a Navy Spouse.

Kyle Neff, Donations Assistant

Kyle studied history at Hood College and spent time working at Ft. Detrick before joining Fisher House late in 2010. In his role as Donations Administrator, Kyle ensures donations are handled properly and makes sure each donor is thanked appropriately for their support of Fisher House. Kyle also maintains our ever-expanding donor database with a discerning eye towards detail and a taciturn demeanor towards its upkeep. Kyle is humbled to be part of the Fisher House Foundation and happy to be able support our deserving military families.

Bruce Phillips, Operations Officer

Bruce started with the Foundation in early 2010 as an Operations Officer. Before Fisher House, Bruce and his wife Cat served for 8 years at a nonprofit residential program for teens and families in crisis, in Vermont. Bruce loves to share the mission and story of Fisher House and enjoys representing the Foundation at fundraisers and other events.

Vicki Reeping, Deputy of Community Relations

Vicki began working part-time for the Foundation in 2006 while attending college, and accepted a full-time position after graduating from University of Maryland in 2008. Her position as Deputy of Community Relations encompasses many duties including, Fisher House manager liaison, Newman’s Own Awards grant coordinator, and special events team member. Vicki has a very special place in her heart for the military community as her grandfathers were WWII veterans & three of her cousins are Marines.

Makenzie Schulz, Receptionist

After graduation from Point Park University in 2010, Makenzie spent time teaching 1st grade at an international school in Naples, Italy. Continuing her travels, Makenzie worked as a U.S. Navy civilian as the U.S. Community Liaison at the NATO base in Lisbon, Portugal. She decided to return to the United States and is now the welcoming face of Fisher House Foundation. She assists the public with any questions regarding Fisher House Foundation, including donations and program information.

Stacy Toner, Team Fisher House Program Assistant

As an active duty military spouse for the past 14 years, Stacy's connection to Fisher House is personal. During deployments and during daily life in the military, she is put at ease knowing that if an emergency medical situation arises, the Fisher House will be there for her family. As part of Team Fisher House, she enjoys the opportunity to share her background in Exercise Science and the excitement in seeing friends and families of the military become healthier while spreading the word about a wonderful organization doing incredible things for our military families. She is truly honored and humbled to be part of this wonderful organization, to be the Program Assistant and coach of such enthusiastic fundraisers, and to be a proud military spouse.

Megan Wynn, Grants Coordinator

After finishing graduate school and moving to the D.C. area, Megan joined the Fisher House Foundation staff in October 2013. Her first experience volunteering for a nonprofit was with Toys for Tots, since then she always knew that she wanted to work in the nonprofit field and for an organization that supported our military and veterans. Working in the Donations Department, she specializes in donor relations and grants management.